Posted by Another life taken
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jan 9, 2008 at 2:01 pm

This is very sad...even after all the deaths in the past few years, Joel,Kyle and Laurel kids continue to do stupid things... kids...life is short, enjoy it when you're sober because sometimes you never get a 2nd chance at it.

No one wins in something like this. Laurel lost her life, Katie will lose hers after spending time in prison. I know that she is alive but the life she will have will not be worth living. It will be interesting to see what Laurels blood alcohol level was. She must not have been in any better shape to not realize how bad off Katie was. It is so sad to loose two young women to alcohol. I am sure that both sets of parents are questioning where they went wrong bringing up these girls. I wonder if everyone missed the seriousness of the alcohol problem. A lot of drinking goes on in these two high schools and parents need to see this with open eyes, its not just a little problem. A town of this size should not loose this many children because of alcohol.

Posted by chris
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Jan 10, 2008 at 7:41 pm

Marie: Perhaps Katie will turn her life around and be able help other young people with this one day...that is the best that can come of it...As far as 12 step programs, AA is right here in our backyard and anyone can get help, they have to WANT it..Back in November this topic took a beating, and alot of hate and unkindness showed up here, let's hope this time we can all find some compassion and forgiveness in our hearts for those left with the consequences...Young people today do what they are taught to do, on t.v., schools, it is everywhere, party, party, party......."Know God, Know peace..No God, no peace"

Posted by Michelle
a resident of Pleasanton Meadows
on Jan 12, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Chris: I must agree with you, Im not saying what she did was right, but I couldnt imagine loosing my best friend in accident of my fault. She does have to live with it the rest of her life. And being so young she help the community who may get in the car the next day after drinking so much the night before and think they were ok to drive. She should have the oppurtunity to help others, I'm sure thats what her best friend would want.

I couldn't imagine on how both the families are feeling. It is a hard decision. But at least let living help others that are living.

Posted by Michelle
a resident of Pleasanton Meadows
on Jan 12, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Chris: I must agree with you, Im not saying what she did was right, but I couldnt imagine loosing my best friend in accident of my fault. She does have to live with it the rest of her life. And being so young she help the community who may get in the car the next day after drinking so much the night before and think they were ok to drive. She should have the oppurtunity to help others, I'm sure thats what her best friend would want.

I couldn't imagine on how both the families are feeling. It is a hard decision. But at least let living help others that are living.

25 TO LIFE IS A TOUGH SENTENCE FOR A KILLER DRUNK DRIVER! CAROL, YOU ENJOY PRETENDING THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WHERE AFFECTED BY THE KILLER DRIVER ARE KATIE AND HER FAMILY. EVERTHE LOOSE! I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE SO FULL OF ANGER AND IGNORE WHAT HAPPENED TO LAUREL AND ALL OF HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WHY TAKE YOU ANGER OUT ON LAUREL? YOU ARE JUST RUDE!

Posted by friend
a resident of another community
on Feb 11, 2008 at 9:11 am

CHOLO - IF YOU HAD ANY SENSE YOU WOULD KNOW THAT KATIE IS NOT GOING TO GET 25 YEARS TO LIFE. YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE AND BE HAPPY IN IT. LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE SUCH AN UNHAPPY, MISERABLE, MEAN AND RUDE PERSON.

I HAVE ASKED YOU THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS REPEATEDLY AND YOU ALWAYS REFUSE TO ANSWER:

WOULD YOU FEEL THE SAME IF IT WAS YOUR FRIEND OR FAMILY?

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF SOMEONE WAS POSTING WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT YOUR FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER.

Dear Fiend...you are a very very RUDE person. Your questions have been answered.

As for the Killer Drunk Driver Katie, she will be put in jail eventually so ACCEPT it. That is the LAW! Our laws exist for a reason. Break CA law and you sometimes go to jail. What is it that you crybabies don't understand?

25 years to life is a fair sentence given what Katie did to Laurel. Laurel is gone and Katie lives on with all the cry babies on the rampage because now she has to go to jail. Boo Hoo...boo hoo...

My friends and family are not DRUNK KILLER DRIVERS...DOES THAT ANSWER YOU WAY SILLY QUESTION MON AMI? GROW UP, GUILTY IS GUILTY!!!

Posted by friend
a resident of another community
on Feb 11, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Nobody is being rude, except you, and I am not being a crybaby. I have never wrote or implied that Katie shouldn't go to jail for the accident that happened. She should and will have to face consequences for the horrible decision she made that morning. All I have ever said is that this was not intentional. Laurel was just as drunk as she was and made her own adult decision to get into the car with Katie and I'm sure would have drove if it was her car waiting for them. Laurel does have some blame here as well. Katie will have to live with this for the rest of her life.
Katie is not going to spend 25 years to life in jail, no matter how hard you wish or how many times you say it, it is not going to happen.

I don't believe that NONE of your friends or family have ever gotten behind the wheel after having too much to drink. But if it makes it easier to defend your attitude about this than go right ahead and believe it.

YOUR MAKE BELIEVE WORLD IS PITIFUL...KATIE KILLED LAUREL. THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY WRECKLESS DRUNKS. IF YOU NEED TO BLAME LAUREL FOR HER OWN DEATH, YOU ARE MORE THAN JUST A LITTLE BIT COO-COO!
WHAT KIND OF EVIL PERSON BLAMES THE PERSON KILLED BY A DRUNK DRIVER FOR HER DEATH?

YOU ARE A CRYBABY BECAUSE YOU KEEP CRYING AND CRYING AND CRYING UP A STORM FOR THE DRUNK DRIVER KATIE THE KILLER! YOUR FAKE CRYBABY TEARS DON'T FOOL ME ONE BIT!

Posted by friend
a resident of another community
on Feb 11, 2008 at 3:50 pm

Laurel has some responsibility in her own death, she had a choice to get in the car or not knowing the situation. If you don't blame Laurel for making that decision then why are you blaming Katie for her decision.
YOU ARE THE ONE WITH A SCREW LOOSE.
YOU ARE AN IDIOT AND NOT WORTH ANYBODY'S TIME.

Posted by Carol
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Feb 11, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Cholo, your not reading what people are saying. I have not read one comment that says Katie should not go to jail. In fact everyone believes she will pay for her decision that day by going to jail as she should. No one thinks she should get off. She did kill her friend and she will pay for it.

I think Cholo's point is that in the eyes of lady justice, "feelings" do not matter.
So far, I haven't been able to find any information that people charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated would get 25 years to life. Then again, it all depends on how good your lawyer is...
"a) Vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with gross negligence may be punished by up to one year in the county jail, or four to 10 years in state prison. However, where there are one or more priors of this or certain other vehicular felonies, it may be punished by 15 years to life in the state prison" from Web Link
"Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the most serious DUI-related offense short of murder. The offense is charged in situations where a driver is DUI, is driving in a highly reckless manner, and the reckless driving causes the death of another person. The penalty for conviction is up to ten years of state prison (per person killed)." from Web Link

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